在西方文化，每年後面部分的期間，假期突然出現在我們面前。從黑色星期五到聖誕節，人們被鼓勵不惜任何代價去購買你要給的禮物。據我估計，家庭概念在文化這點有一個幾近荒誕的意含。多年來我最近首次在這個節期參觀北美，我發現在華麗和閃閃發亮的燈光後面，財富及隨處可見的購物袋在擁擠的街道上，潛藏的一些事情相當令人不安。有時在這人海中你會瞥見一雙鬼鬼祟祟的眼精，看起來迷途及驚恐的，這些人是誰？我問我自己，我一直安穩的穿著我昂貴的羊毛外套和鮮豔的圍巾。當然，這些是自由放任資本主義的碎石，可憐的靈魂不夠幸運或不夠聰明（從一個財政的觀點）出現在上面：失敗者們。我要安排他們在我們經濟結構的哪裡？第一個解答是歐洲，其次是北美，亞洲第三。我們以市場為導向的系統沒有誇張地模仿，似乎適當地滿足平民百姓，雖然一些人顯然地比其他人好：思考一下北歐國家。核心問題是我們的生產力模式是極為貧困的。
有一個論點是我們經濟模式如同我們所說的一樣正在改變。我們正生活在歷史裡且2016年改變正在發生：一旦你了解轉變是用這種方式，這需要不是為了一個超級計算五年計劃，而是一個企劃，目的應該是擴展那些科技、生意模式和分解市場力量的行為、適於社會生活的知識、除去工作需要，推動經濟朝向富足，我稱之為企劃零。因為它的目標是一個零碳能量系統，機器製作、產品和服務用零邊際本，以及減少必須的工作時間儘可能接近零。
大部份的二十世紀左派分子相信他們沒有奢侈受監管的過渡時期：沒有即將到來的系統存在，舊派的工人階級總是企圖創造一個二擇一的生活及怨恨資本主義制度，這是一個他們的信念。所以，一旦蘇聯式風格變遷的可能性消失不見，現代的激進分子變成全神貫注反對的事情：醫療保健私有化、反工會法等等。如果我是對的，支持者們職守資本主義制度建立是必然的焦點。
這篇文章建議人類應該準備進入一個正向的過渡時間，混亂與這個改變有關聯，這將對我們的家人及家庭生活產生影響。假如好好思考一下溫暖和聯繫是家庭被必需的，你會意識到我們的家庭常感覺到多麼有壓力。基本的住所在世界的許多城市是負擔不起的，這意指我們的親戚必須努力撫養家庭：這個貧困在聖誕季節特別被放大。未來我們將看到一個教育和思維的改變〝越多越大就越好〞的模式將不會被延伸到未來。
舉個例子，我相信我們目前的流動模式將消失以及較傳統的時間概念將再度出現：時間有真正的價值。我們移動到城市去尋找工作和機會，我們將回歸到鄉村生活做相同的事情。所有這些將藉由我們科技的聯繫被促進。當然，已經不需要有實體辦公室，更多的〝工作〞可以在任何虛擬地地方被處理。假如我們改變我們的學習模式及真誠地鼓勵我們的家人和小孩去〝做他們所愛的〞，一個關於人類新的復興。總是改變著人類之奢侈的反省和談話期間，將再一次變得普及：慢運動將出現成功。我們將看到一個明亮及令人興奮的未來。偉大的俄羅斯小說家和劇作家伊凡‧謝吉耶維奇‧屠格涅夫留給我們一個思想：時間有時像一隻鳥一樣飛行，有時像蝸牛一樣徐徐行進，但是當他沒有注意到它是否迅速或緩慢的通過，是一個人最幸福的時候。
笑話一則：瓊斯先生是一間大銀行的管理者，由於銀行的規模，機構總是有充裕的現金在場且被守衛的非常好。有一天，瓊斯先生被他的朋友拜訪，他們聊天直到銀行關門。當他們離開，瓊欺先生開始輸入他的安全碼離開大樓，一位年長的清潔人員正忙碌的擦拭鋪了瓷磚的入口大廳地板，她抬頭看並說：主任，不需要那樣離開，後門完全敞開著。
這星期，請好好思考一下2016你將如何度過。
每天試著尋找迷人及美好的事物。
引言：生活應該是陽光照射的美好，它常常被不重要的事件和瑣碎的事物而烏雲密布。時間是我們僅有的真實禮物：我們必須善用它。
In Western culture, during the latter part of each year, the holiday season descends upon us. From “Black Friday” (1) to Christmas Day, people are encouraged to buy at any price: you are “validated” by the gifts that you give. At this point in the culture, in my estimation, the concept of family, takes on an almost surreal implication. I recently visited North America during this season for the first time in many years, I found that behind the glitter and the shiny lights, the wealth and the ubiquitous shopping bags on the crowded streets, lurked something quite disquieting. Every now and then in this sea of humanity, you would “catch a glimpse” of a set of furtive eyes that looked lost and terrified. “Who are these people?” I would ask myself, all the while safely ensconced in my expensive woolen topcoat and colorful foulard. These, of course, are the detritus of laissez-faire capitalism, (2) the poor souls not quite lucky enough or smart enough (from a financial perspective) to come out “on top”: the losers. Where do we place them in our economic structure? Europe has one solution, North America another and Asia yet a muddled third. No caricatured copy of our market-driven system seems to adequately address the “unwashed,” the poor, though some are obviously better than others: think of the Nordic countries. The core problem is that our productivity model is in great distress.
There is a thesis that our economic model is changing as we speak. We are living in history and in 2016 change is happening: “Once you understand the transition in this way, the need is not for a super-computed Five Year Plan (3) – but a project, the aim of which should be to expand those technologies, business models and behaviors that dissolve market forces, socialize knowledge, eradicate the need for work and push the economy towards abundance. I call it Project Zero – because its aims are a zero-carbon-energy system; the production of machines, products and services with zero marginal costs; and the reduction of necessary work time as close as possible to zero.
Most 20th-century leftists (4) believed that they did not have the luxury of a managed transition: it was an article of faith for them that nothing of the coming system could exist within the old one – though the working class always attempted to create an alternative life within and “despite” capitalism. As a result, once the possibility of a Soviet-style transition disappeared, the modern left became preoccupied simply with opposing things: the privatization of healthcare, anti-union laws – the list goes on. If I am right, the logical focus for supporters of post capitalism is to build.” (5)
This article suggests that humanity is poised to enter into a positive transitional time, with the chaos associated with this change. This will have an impact on our families and on our family life. If one reflects on the warmth and links that are entailed by family, you are made aware of how stressed our family often feels. Basic accommodation in many cities in the world is unaffordable. This means that our kinfolk must struggle to provide for the unit: this distress is especially amplified in the Christmas Season. The future will see a change in education and a change in thought. The model of “more and bigger is better” will not extend into the future.
I, for one, believe that our present peripatetic model will fall away and the more traditional concept of “time” will reemerge: time having true value. We moved into cities to seek employment and opportunity, we will return to country life to do the same. All of this will be facilitated by our technological links. There is, of course, already no need to be in a physical office. Most “work” can be conducted at virtually any location. If we alter our learning model and truly encourage our families and children to “do what they love,” a new renaissance is upon humanity. The luxurious periods of reflection and discourse, which have always changed humanity, will once again become popular: the slow movement (6) will emerge triumphant. We will see a bright and exciting future. The great Russian novelist and playwright Ivan Turgenev (1818- 1883) leaves us with a thought: Time sometimes flies like a bird, sometimes crawls like a snail; but a man is happiest when he does not even notice whether it passes swiftly or slowly.
A small joke: Mr. Jones was the manager of a large bank. Due to its size, the institution always had ample cash money on hand and was thus very well guarded and secure. One day Mr. Jones was visited by his friend. They talked until well after the bank had closed. As they left, Mr. Jones began typing in his security code to exist the building. An elderly cleaner was busily polishing the tiled entrance hall floor. She looked up and said, “Director, there is no need to go out that way, the back door is wide open.”
This week, please reflect on 2016 and how you will spend your time.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Quote: The sunlit beauty that life should be is often clouded by unimportant events and trivial objects. Time is our only true gift: we must spend it well.
Footnotes:
1) Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States (the fourth Thursday of November). It is the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
2) Laissez-faire capitalism, in its purest form, means an economic model without government regulation or control.
3) A Five Year Plan is a centralized and tightly controlled economic plan over a five year period. These are viewed as crippling fiscal constructs that collapsed systems like the former Russian/Soviet Empire (1922-1991).
4) A Left-Wing political stance usually means supporting a classless and equitable society.
5) The End of Capitalism has Begun by Paul Mason: The Guardian Newspaper
6) The Slow Movement advocates slowing life’s pace so that time and discourse are more appreciated.